Balloon and spring clip



June 25, 1963 v DORMAN BALLQON AND SPRING CLIP.

Filed Oct. 23,- 1958 Fig. l

" JNVENTOR; ISLdflf'E' Bur-man 3,094,807. Patented June 25, 1963 3,094,807 BALLOON AND SPRING CLIP Isidore Dorman, Whitestone, N.Y. Dorman Manufacturing (30., 11219 14th Road, College Point, N.Y.) Filed Oct. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 769,164 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-?0) This invention relates to toy balloons, and more particularly to a combination balloon, closure or sealing means, and attachment means for holding the balloon captive.

Heretofore, various devices have been proposed and marketed, having for their purpose the easy sealing of a toy balloon. These devices have not been entirely satisfactory since they did not securely and permanently retain the gas in the balloon, but instead permitted a certain amount of leakage. This was in many instances due to the wrinkling of the balloon neck which accompanied the twisting and/or knotting effected by the sealing device, enabling the gas to gradually pass out over a period of time. Moreover, such prior devices were often not easy to operate and apply.

The above drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior balloon sealing and attachment devices are obviated by the present invention, and one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination toy balloon and sealing and attachment means engageable with the neck of the balloon, which is characterized by ease and convenience in applying the said means to the balloon after the latter has been inflated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination balloon, closure and attachment means for holding the balloon captive as above set forth, which is of the utmost simplicity, and is inexpensive and economical to produce in large volume with inexpensive, conventional too-ling means and equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved balloon sealing and attachment means in accordance with the foregoing, which positively prevents the egress of air or gas from the inflated balloon, being sturdy in its construction and reliable in operation at all times.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel, improved combination balloon, sealing and attachment means having the above features and advantages, and wherein the sealing and attachment means may be readily completely preassembled to a cord or stick prior to its application to the inflated balloon, and wherein the operation of the sealing and attachment means is easily and quickly understood, requiring only a minimum amount of simple directions to be readily understood by the average user. The sealing and attachment means is further ideally suited for use with a pump type of balloon inflating device.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, similar characters of reference are used wherever possible to designate like components or portions throughout the several views, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a combination inflated balloon, closure or sealing and attachment means applied thereto, having a string connected with the said means for holding the balloon captive.

FIG. 2 is an edge elevational View, enlarged, of the closure means per se shown in closing or sealing position.

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but showing the sealing means in its open position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary edge elevational View of the closure means or clip of the invention, shown in the process of being closed and illustrating the camming action of the releasable fastening ends on the co-extensive legs of the clip.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an inflated toy balloon 10 having a constricted tubular neck portion 11 formed in the usual manner, with walls of thin section, said neck portion terminating in a thickened edge or rim 12 as is conventional in articles of this type. In conjunction with the toy balloon 10 there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a novel closure or sealing and attachment means having secured to it a string for holding the balloon 10 captive. The said sealing means and balloon together constitute a novel combination, having a number of unique features and advantages.

For one thing, the sealing and attachment means may be very easily and conveniently applied to the neck of the balloon '10 after the latter has been inflated, even when a pump is used for this operation. Moreover, the closure means securely seals the neck of the balloon and prevents egress of the air or fluid from the interior there of. The operation of the closure or sealing and attachment means is easily understood, and I have found that it is extremely reliable in its functioning. Moreover, it is of the utmost simplicity, and may be readily mass produced using inexpensive, conventional tooling means and equipment. Further, the means for holding the balloon captive, as for example the string or stick, may be preassembled to the sealing means or clip prior to application of the latter to the inflated balloon. Also, at any desired time the closure means may be easily and quickly removed from the neck 11 of the balloon, thereby to effect a deflation of the balloon, and the closure means may be subsequently reused or used any number of times, either with the same balloon or with other balloons.

. The said unique closure means as shown in the figures comprises a two-armed clamp in the form of a spring clip, which as clearly shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the neck portion of a balloon to pinch and close the same. The said clip is preferably constituted of a single piece of flat metal strip stock folded back on itself to form two co-extensive oppositely-curved arms 15 and 16 which are integral with each other, being joined at one pair of adjoining or corresponding ends 17, 18. The fold 19 of the clip has an appreciable radius, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and forms a closed loop when the clip is closed on the balloon neck. The separate end-s 21 and 22 of the arms have a novel, camming-type fastening means for releasably holding them together, said arms when released and separated as shown in FIG. 3 being bow d away from each other, and when secured together and extending on opposite sides of the neck 11 of the balloon being substantially straight as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 1, when the clip 14 is on the neck 11 it pinches the same and holds the two opposed walls perfect- 1y flat and Without wrinkles between the arms 15 and 16, said arms applying a uniform, even pressure which thereby securely prevents any egress of air or fluid from the inflated balloon. The said walls constitute resilient flat membranes which are held securely together, forming a very effective seal thereby.

The camrning type fastening means provided on the separate ends 21, 22 of the clip arms comprise a hook indicated generally by the numeral 24, and a cooperable, short bent portion 25 of the end 21, said portion being bent at an angle to the arm 15 and preferably making a large, obtuse angle therewith as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The hook 24 is constituted of a short end portion 27 which is also bent at an angle to the arm 16 carrying it. However, the end portion 27 is bent much more sharply than the cooperable portion 25, and as shown makes an acute angle with respect to the arm 16 which carries it.

By the above organization comprising the bent end portions 25 and 27 of the clip there is provided not only a simple and reliable, releasable fastening means by which the arms 15, 16 may be secured together as shown in FIG. 2 or released and separated as shown in FIG. 3,

but also one whose functioning is facilitated and made very easy and convenient, because of the carnming action. Referring to FIG. 4 it will be seen that when the arms 15, 16 are brought together, the bent extremity 25' will have its sloping face 29 brought into engagement with the tip of the bent portion 27. Upon continued movement of the arms 15 land '16 toward each other the end portion 25 will cam and force outward the portion 27, and will thereafter pass downward past the tip of the portion 27, so that the relative positions shown in FIG. 2 Will be attained. This is the operative position of the fastening means, wherein it is automatically adjusting to retain the arms 15, 16 in tight engagement with each other or, when sealing a balloon, closely spaced with the balloon neck 11 interposed. It will now be readily understood that the operation of closing the clip and securing the arms thereof in clamping engagement merely requires the bringing together of the two extremities 25, 27 in the aforesaid manner, wherein the part 25 cams outward the portion 27 and then bypasses the tip thereof, after which the portion 27 holds the part 25 captive and under continual force.

In order to release the fastening means it is merely necessary to flex the end portion 27 outward, as by the tip of the finger, to enable the portion 25 to be released therefrom. In this action the bowed construction of the arms 15, 16 is of considerable aid, since the natural tendency [for the arms to flex away from each other will cause a separation of the separate ends thereof as soon as the tip portion 27 releases the part 25.

The fastening r latching, yieldable-detent type ends are self-adjusting by virtue of the cam surface on the portion 27; and the fastening is very simple yet positive, and easily released by forcing outward the end 27, as will be now understood.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closed loop portion 19 of the clip is especially suited for accommodating a balloon retainer such as string or line 32, as by passing the latter through the closed loop and tying it, thereby to enable the balloon to be readily held captive. Or a stick or rod may be secured to the clip, by suitable means passing through the loop 19. The string 32 or stick may be tied or assembled to the clip prior to the latter being applied to the neck 11 of the balloon, as will be readily understood.

It will now be seen that I have provided an extremely simple combination of toy balloon and closure and attachment means especially adapted to easily and effectively close or seal the neck of the balloon and hold the latter captive. The construction of the closure means involves but a single part, which may be conveniently applied to the neck 11 of an inflated balloon, to completely seal the same. Moreover, the closure means may be removed at any time and subsequently used with the same balloon or with other balloons, and its removal may be done as easily as its application. It is to be further noted that the manner of operation of the [fastening means for the arms of the closure is easily understandable to the average person. The closure means is not only simple, but it may be economically fabricated by mass production methods, using simple tools and machine equipment.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

11. An inflated, deflatable toy comprising, in combination an inflated toy balloon having a constricted tubular neck portion formed with walls of thin section; a two- .armed lockable spring clamp at all times biased to open position, said clamp being held closed by locking it and being in the form of a locking type spring clip attached to the said neck portion of the balloon and closing the sameysaid clip being constituted of a single piece of fiat metal strip stock folded on itself to form two coextensive arms which are integral with each other at one pair of adjoining and corresponding ends, the fold of the clip having an appreciable radius forming a closed loop when the clip is closed on the neck of the balloon, the separate ends of the said arms having means for releasably locking them together, said arms being at all times biased apart and when released and allowed to separate being curved and bowed' away from each other, and said arms when locked together at their separate ends and extending on opposite sides of said neck being forcibly held by said locking means so as to extend substantially straight, and said arms pinching the neck virtually flat between them against the biasing action of the clip, thereby to prevent egress of air from the balloon, said means for releasibly holding the separate ends comprising a hook on one of the ends, adapted to engage the other end and confine the same with the arms substantially straight and parallel, and disposed closely adjacent each other, said hook being constituted of a short end portion of the arm carrying it,'the end portion being substantially straight and making an acute angle with the arm portion, the separat'e end of the other arm having a short portion bent at an angle to, the arm and in a direction away from the said one arm.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the said bent end portion of the separate end of the other arm constitutes a camrning means adapted to cam outward the'said hook portion of the one arm when the ends of the arms are brought together to flatten the arms against the opposite sides of theballoon neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,269 Poe Sept. 10, 1901 1,201,045 Head Oct. 10, 1916 1,287,764 Sanderson Dec. 17, 1918 1,287,826 Ballou Dec. 17, 1918 11,459,382 Wagner June 19, 1923 1,480,935 Gleason Jan. 15, 1924 1,589,228 Robb- June 15, 19:26 2,031,685 Bomber Feb. 25, 1936 2,128,628 Worobjoff' Aug. 30, 1938 2,396,906 Windson Mar. :19, 1946 2,465,746 Pereny Mar. 29, 1949 2,598,901 Garland June 3, 1952 2,628,396: Grimes et a1 Feb. 17, 1953 2,824,407 Ebel Feb. 25, 1958 

1. AN INFLATED, DEFLATABLE TOY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION AN INFLATED TOY BALLOON HAVING A CONSTRICTED TUBULAR NECK PORTION FORMED WITH WALLS OF THIN SECTION; A TWOARMED LOCKABLE SPRING CLAMP AT ALL TIMES BIASED TO OPEN POSITION, SAID CLAMP BEING HELD CLOSED BY LOCKING IT AND BEING IN THE FORM OF A LOCKING TYPE SPRING CLIP ATTACHED TO THE SAID NECK PORTION OF THE BALLOON AND CLOSING THE SAME, SAID CLIP BEING CONSTITUTED OF A SINGLE PIECE OF FLAT METAL STRIP STOCK FOLDED ON ITSELF TO FORM TWO COEXTENSIVE ARMS WHICH ARE INTEGRAL WITH EACH OTHER AT ONE PAIR OF ADJOINING AND CORRESPONDING ENDS, THE FOLD OF THE CLIP HAVING AN APPRECIABLE RADIUS FORMING A CLOSED LOOP WHEN THE CLIP IS CLOSED ON THE NECK OF THE BALLOON, THE SEPARATE ENDS OF THE SAID ARMS HAVING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING THEM TOGETHER, SAID ARMS BEING AT ALL TIMES BIASED APART AND WHEN RELEASED AND ALLOWED TO SEPARATE BEING CURVED AND BOWED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AND SAID ARMS WHEN LOCKED TOGETHER AT THEIR SEPARATE ENDS AND EXTENDING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID NECK BEING FORCIBLY HELD BY SAID LOCKING MEANS SO AS TO EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT, AND SAID ARMS PINCHING THE NECK VIRTUALLY FLAT BETWEEN THEM AGAINST THE BIASING ACTION OF THE CLIP, THEREBY TO PREVENT EGRESS OF AIR FROM THE BALLOON, SAID MEANS FOR RELEASIBLY HOLDING THE SEPARATE ENDS COMPRISING A HOOK ON ONE OF THE ENDS, ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE OTHER END AND CONFINE THE SAME WITH THE ARMS SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT AND PARALLEL, AND DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT EACH OTHER, SAID HOOK BEING CONSTITUTED OF A SHORT END PORTION OF THE ARM CARRYING IT, THE END PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT AND MAKING AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH THE ARM PORTION, THE SEPARATE END OF THE OTHER ARM HAVING A SHORT PORTION BENT AT AN ANGLE TO THE ARM AND IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE SAID ONE ARM. 